Red Sox owner to buy AS Roma

Old Glory flies in front of Roma owner Rosella Sensi at a recent match

A group of U.S. investors led by Thomas DiBenedetto, part owner of the Boston Red Sox, are reportedly wading into the insular world of Serie A by making an audacious bid for my favorite club, AS Roma.

It’s hard to overstate what a ground-shaking development this is, both for the traditionally humble and locally-owned club and the league. The Giallorossi have won just three titles in its long and painful 84-year history, the latest in 2000-2001 under its current owners, the Sensi family. But outstanding debt led the family and the bank that now owns the club to seek buyers. Five offers reportedly came in, with the American consortium presenting the best offer.

Buyers are led by DiBenedetto, a partner in the holding company that owns the Red Sox and Liverpool in the EPL, and include Julian Movsesian, the president of Succession Capital Alliance. The deal, valued at 130 million euros – or $179 million – could be completed in less than two weeks. The buyers want a 50 million-euro credit line for the club from Milan-based UniCredit after the purchase, Italian daily Il Messaggero reported.

I really hope these people can do something for this club, although I think that they already are by buying it. I’m shocked because this marks the first time in the modern game that a powerful non-Italian owner will compete in Serie A. As big, international cash has crept into the English Premier League in the last decade, it mostly stayed away from the sometimes political Serie A, which has had a recent history of corruption and domination by more powerful northern teams. Heck, AC Milan is owned by the country’s prime minister.It’s going to be fascinating to see how the Americans navigate in this world. My instincts are to feel excited, but also a little worried. We’ve seen how American ownership at Liverpool has worked out - not pretty. I just hope that these fellas know what they are getting into. Roma is a spirit-based, emotional, agonizing club that plays in such a combustible atmosphere. The media pressure is insane, so is the desire for success. I hope DiBenedetto and company aren’t just ruthless capitalists looking to somehow make some cash off our situation and then dump us. After all, they have no connection or known affection for the club.

Initial signs are positive. The possible buyers say they want to hire Carlo Ancellotti, a former Roma player who is now coaching at Chelsea. American fans of Roma are keeping their fingers crossed. I am also kinda hoping that the new owners (fingers crossed) bring the club on over to NY and/or Boston for some training and pre-season matches. I’m trying to turn you all into Roma fans. The club plays European champions, Inter of Milan, on Sunday a few hours before the Super Bowl. Check it out.

2 Responses

I’d agree on your instincts, although I am a bit more cynical perhaps since I’d weigh the “a little worried” piece a bit higher in my book. I am a die-hard AS Roma fan, and have been since my teens, and the single biggest reason for that is the “spirit-based, emotional, and agonizing club atmosphere”… “Success” as defined $$$ and trophies, at cost of these traditional Giallorossi character traits, is not what I believe us Giallorossi faithful aspire to. We want success through the means of our DNA. Sincerely hope DiBenedetto understands this and doesn’t try to fix the pieces of AS Roma that aren’t broke.